Weighing scale



H. W. HEM

WEIGHING SCALE Feb. 6, 1945.

Filed July 10, 1942 m e w Hm W m a V Wm a H 3 TORNEYS Patented Feb. 6, 1945 WEIGHING SCALE Halvor W. Hem, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Toledo Scale Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application July 10, 1942, Serial No. 450,476

1 Claim.

This invention relates to weighing scales, and more particularly to indicating means for permitting a weighing scale to be countersunk in a retail store counter while still providing visible indication of weight to both the customer and the merchant.

In the so-called super markets after the customers have served themselves and assembled their purchases in a wheeled cart, the merchandise is checked at a checking counter placed near the exit from the store. These counters are in general of two types. The first is a counter which is made very low so that the clerk checking the merchandise can reach over the counter to remove it from the cart and also can see the customers hands and pockets to prevent shoplifting." The second type of checking counter is high and usually has a'tunnel through which the cart is pushed so that the clerk behind the counter can easily unload it. In either instance, and particularly in the latter, space on the checking counter is at a premium since the merchandise must be placed thereon and moved from one side to the other as its value is entered in a ticketprinting cash register. Because of the crowded conditions on the checking counter, many super markets do not have checking scales located thereon and therefore merchandise which is purchased by weight, such as meat and produce, is usually weighed and priced by clerks in those departments. This requires the employment of several clerks in addition to the checking and stock maintenance clerks and substantially increases the cost of operation.

It is an object of this invention to provide a weighing scale which can be set in the checking counter and thus not obstruct the free space on the top of the counter.

It is another object of this invention to provide indicating means for a weighing scale which is mounted with its load receiving platter on the same level as a counter top.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a weighing scale which may be employed in checking operations and which will not occupy space on top of the counter or obstruct the checking clerk's vision.

More specific objects and advantages are apparent from the description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred form of weighing scale indicator embodying the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. I is a perspective view of a checking counter in which a weighing scale embodying the invention is shown installed.

Fig. II is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a weighing scale embodying the invention.

The specific drawing and the specific description that follow merely disclose and illustrate the invention and are not intended to impose limitations upon the claim.

A checking counter H], which may have a tunnel ll through which carts may be pushed, and a loading shelf l2 on which bags of merchandise may be packed, has a well l3 in which a weighing scale l4 may be located. The weighing scale H is preferably of the box type having a housing l5, which encloses the weighing mechanism and an indicating chart l6, and a platter I! mounted above the housing IS. The well I3 is of such depth that the surface of the platter I1 is flush with the surface of the checking counter I0. The well [3 has a top plate l8, which is shaped to extend beneath the edges of the platter I1 to prevent the ingress of dust and food particles into the well l3, and which has two windowed apertures l9 and 20.

The aperture I9 is located above the upper end of a periscope 2| which is secured to the exterior of the housing [5 on the customer's side of the weighing scale It. The lower end of the periscope 2| extends over an opening 22 in the housing l5 which is in line with the outer end of a sighting funnel 23 located over the peripheral area on the cylindrical chart l6 where the customers weight indicia is printed.

A prism 24 is mounted in the upper end of the periscope 2|. The prism 24 bends the sighting line into the funnel 23 so that the rays carrying the image of the indicia on the chart l6 emanate vertically from the aperture I 9.

A second periscope 25 is fastened to the exterior of the housing l5 on the merchant's side of the weighing scale. The lower end of the periscope 25 covers an opening 26 in the housing l5 which is in line with a lens cell 21 extending laterally along the merchants side of the chart IS. A lens 28 magnifies the indicia on a price-indicia member 29 and the amount indicia carried by the chart IS. A prism 30, mounted in the upper end of the periscope 25, bends the sighting line of the amount and price indicia so that it emanates from the aperture 20 in a vertical direction.

The weighing scale is mounted in the well IS on vertically adjustable studs 3| so that its condition of level can be adjusted with reference to a spirit level 32 which is visible through an opening. in the side of the well l3.

Thus both the customer and the merchant are afforded a complete indication of the weight of various types of merchandise and the proper 5 charge therefore can be checked at the checking counter without occupying any of the space on the checking counter or obscuring the checkers view over the counter.

The embodiment of the invention that has been 10 asoaaac tion, a counter, a box scale having a load receiver above its counterbalancing and indicating mechanism, a well in said counter in which said scale is located with its load receiver flush with said counter, a cover for said well, said cover extending beneath the load receiver and having a pair of glazed apertures adjacent the load receiver, indication viewing apertures in the upper sides of said box scale positioned generally beneath the apertures of said cover, and optical prisms interposed between said apertures in said cover and scale to make the indications 01' said scale visible through the apertures of said cover.

HALVOR W. HEM. 

